Right Boat for the Job

Most sailors wouldn’t dream of sailing from Puget Sound to San Francisco in the middle of winter. But most sailors wouldn’t be sailing a bulletproof 64-ft steel cutter along that route, which had already proven its seaworthiness during an entire circumnavigation of the Americas.

Shortly after concluding the purchase of Spirit of the Sea (ex-Ocean Watch) last week, Berkeley-based Richard Gillette, director of a new nonprofit by the same name, along with a battle-tested crew led by two-time solo circumnavigator Mark Schrader, set sail from Anacortes, despite a sketchy forecast. "Our voyage today from Anacortes to Port Antonio saw 52 knots of wind and 5- to 8-ft seas," reported crew member Shana Bagley this morning, adding that "The 44-ton boat hit over 10 knots, speed over ground. Amaaazing!"

At that rate the vessel will have a quick trip down the coast, where she is expected to be a featured element at April’s Strictly Sail Pacific boat show. In her new role, Spirit of the Sea will be involved in a wide variety of sailing activities, primarily focused on expanding access to sailing to all stratas of the Bay Area’s population.